Music is more political now than it has been in years, which should come as no surprise to really anyone. Sometimes, this political tension produces some truly powerful work, and such is the case with Kate Tempest new video “Tunnel Vision.”
Tempest, the musician, poet, author and playwright (as well as Mercury Prize Nominee) recently dropped off a new video for her single “Tunnel Vision,” off the Let Them Eat Chaos LP, and the political angst is only heightened by the added visuals. As Tempest recites some beautiful spoken word over a staticy, droning keys-driven beat, various scenes of young, mostly minority people pan around over the music, as several clash with the cops. Just within eyesight is a group of wealthy, older white men, held out of reach by the line of armored police (we’ll let you draw your own interpretations from that). The new track highlights much of the unchecked frustration and anger in modern society, as well as the marginalization that often happens in a capitalist society. “When we gonna see that life is happening and that ever single body bleeding on its knees is an abomination?” Tempest asks her listeners.
The video was directed by Akinola Davies Jr., who was ecstatic to collaborate with Tempest. “it’s an honour to collaborate with an artist like Kate and be entrusted to make visuasl that we both think best reflect and fit with the body of work she has created,” Davies Jr. says. “She is an exceptional artist and the positivity of her team has been inspiring.”
Tempest also released a video for “Europe is Lost,” back in February. Check out the new visuals below.